Side-by-side comparison · 24 data points
Referral program software that builds brand trust, increases brand advocators and generates revenue.
| AfterShip Referral & Affiliate | Outlink External Links Button | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | ||
| Description | ||
| Screenshots | images | images |
| Languages | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Developer | ||
| Listed |
Add external button links, affiliate links, referral links, or even internal links to your store.
| Metric | AfterShip Referral & Affiliate | Outlink External Links Button |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9 ★ | 4.9 ★ |
| Total reviews | ★ 962 | 145 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Free | Free plan available |
| Built for Shopify | — | ★ Yes |
| Pricing tiers | — | 4 tiers |
| Listed features | 5 | 5 |
| Languages | 1 supported | 20 supported |
| Listed since | Jun 2021 | Jun 2017 |
AfterShip Referral & Affiliate and Outlink External Links Button are evenly matched on rating (4.9★ vs 4.9★) — the differentiator comes down to pricing fit, feature breadth, and which app's interaction pattern suits your team's workflow. Pricing entry tiers: AfterShip Referral & Affiliate at Free, Outlink External Links Button at Free plan available. Check each app's tier structure for the capacity limits you actually need before deciding — the headline number is the same shape, but the gating shape per tier (apps, orders, integrations) varies. AfterShip Referral & Affiliate has the larger user base (962 reviews vs 145), which usually maps to broader integration coverage, faster bug-fix cadence, and a deeper bench of community workflow patterns. Outlink External Links Button's smaller cohort can be an advantage for niche workflows where the bigger app has accumulated bloat. Recommended evaluation path: install both apps' free tiers (where available) and run them in parallel on a small cohort of orders for 7-14 days before committing. The data tables below show the per-feature breakdown — for most merchants the deciding factor will be a single integration or workflow detail that's hard to compare from listing pages alone. This verdict is generated from the live marketplace data on this page — rating, review count, pricing tier, and category position all refresh from the canonical Shopify App Store listing every 24 hours. AppRanks does not accept payment to influence comparison outcomes; the methodology is documented on the About page and applies identically to every pair on the site.
Read each app's audit: AfterShip Referral & Affiliate audit • Outlink External Links Button audit
| Last updated | — | — |
|---|
| Keyword | AfterShip Referral & Affiliate | Outlink External Links Button |
|---|---|---|
| affiliate links | #20 | #7 |
| affiliate | #13 | #231 |
No tracked changes.
Both AfterShip Referral & Affiliate and Outlink External Links Button offer paid plans only. AfterShip Referral & Affiliate starts at Free; Outlink External Links Button starts at Free plan available. Compare the per-tier features in the Pricing section above before committing.
AfterShip Referral & Affiliate (4.9★, 962 reviews) and Outlink External Links Button (4.9★, 145 reviews) are essentially tied on rating. Look at review velocity and individual reviewer quotes — both visible on each app's detail page — to differentiate.
It depends on what you're optimizing for. AfterShip Referral & Affiliate fits better if you prioritize broader integrations; Outlink External Links Button is the call if you need the larger user base. Read both apps' detail pages on AppRanks for the full feature breakdown, install counts, and recent listing changes.
Both apps are one-click installs from the Shopify App Store marketplace. AfterShip Referral & Affiliate has more onboarding documentation maturity (962 reviews vs 145), which usually translates to better-tested setup wizards and quicker time-to-value. AppRanks doesn't measure setup time directly — read the recent reviews on each app's detail page for merchant-reported install experience.
AfterShip Referral & Affiliate typically suits early-stage and growth-mode stores based on its review-base composition (962 reviews). Outlink External Links Button aligns more with early-stage and growth-mode stores (145 reviews). Larger review bases generally mean the app has been load-tested at scale — relevant if you're processing high order volume or handling enterprise compliance requirements.
Migration support varies by app and category. AfterShip Referral & Affiliate and Outlink External Links Button both publish their export options on their marketplace listing pages (or in their support docs); some apps offer one-click import from competitors, others require CSV. The fastest check: search "import from Outlink External Links Button" in each app's help center. AppRanks does not track migration tooling directly — this is a category-specific capability worth verifying before commitment.
